Automatic bowlzktg toy



R. L. BOWMAN.

AUTOMATIC BowLlNG Tov.

APPLICATION FILED IULYB, |919.

Patented Nov. 25, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

XN NN NJN.

Mibu MW R L. BOWMAN.

AUTOMATIC BOWLING TUY.

APPLICATION FILED luLvs. |919.

LSQSQOS. l Patented Nov. 25, 1919.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

R. L. BOWMAN.

AUTOMATIC BOWLING TOY. APPucAnoN'mzn wus. 191s.

1,393,093 y Patented Nov. 25, 1919..

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

ROY L. BOWMAN, OF TOLEDO, OHIO.

AUTOMATIC BOWLING. ToY. i

Specification of Letterslatcnt.

Patented Nov. 25, 1919.

Application lpedJruly- 8, 1919. SerialNo. 309,343.

To all whomz' mayconcern.'

Be it known that' I', ROY'L. BowMAN, a citizen of the United. Stat-es, residing. at Toledo, in the county of Lucas andf State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Bowling Toys, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates toy mechanical toys and has: particular referencetosucha device wherein igures` representing a bowler and pin setter are employed', and operate; in. a manner. simulating; the playing of a game of ten pins.

An important object vof the invention is to provide means whereby theV bowler and pin setter are automatically operated by a series ofballs, traveling down an inclined chute or trough, such balls being.' discharged from the hand of the bowler and thrown upon the alley, to strike the pins, and.l subsequently actuate thepin setter.

A further object of the invention is to provide a toy of the above mentioned' char# acter, which is. simplein; construetion, and entirely automatically operated by gravity acting upon. the series off` balls, thereby dispensing with the necessity ofv employing pulleys, belts, springs', etc.

Other objects' and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description;

In thel accompanying drawings forming a part of' this specification and in which like numerals are. employed to designate likey parts throughout the. same,

Figure l` is. a perspectivef View of" a inechanicalf toy embodying my invention,

Fig. 2: is a trans-.verse vertical/sectional view taken` through the feeding chute or magazine, the same' being takenon line 2.-2 of Fig. l, the ball ejector'being in theflowered position,

Fig. 3- is a. similar view showing the ball ejector elevated,

, Fig. t is` a transverse vsectional viewY through the device, immediately infront of? the pin setter' ligure,

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal vertical sectionah view taken on line. 51e-5 ofFig. 2,

Fig;4 6v is; a horizontal' section taken onv line ofV 5,

Fig. 7 is a similar view taken on line 7 7 of Fig. 5,

Fig. 8 is a1 transverse vertical? seetional viewthrough the` device, near the. bowler figure, and looking rearwardly,

Frig. 9. isa front. and sideA elevation` of a verticalf feed: chute,

Fig. l0 is a side elevation of. a figure,

Fig. 11i is an edge elevation of the same, parts. being in' section,

Fig. 12: is a side elevation of the leg. sup..- port for the figures, y

Fig. lis-an edgefelevation of theV same,

Fig. 14 isa plan viewv of the. same, and,

Fig. 1'5 is a longitudinal section through the ball operated lever.

Inthe drawings, wherein for the purpose of illus-tration isY shown a: preferred.v embodiment of my intention, thenumerai 2 0 designatesA an alley, preferably formedA ofi sheet metal; which isi bent to provide a depending supporting. side 2l, which is vertical, and has-a vertical iange or rib. 22. at it'supper end, projecting above the alley.` 20, and. serving. toprevent the balls from fallingl off of the alley. The alley 20uispreferablyflat and inclined. downwardlytoward? its forward end; Arranged at the opposite side ofthe alley 20 is.A a. plate or wall 22, which is arranged' vertically andi is secured thereto. This pla-te serves tosupport'the alley 2()v and projects above the same. for a substantial distance. The. vertical plate has the upper portion of. its: material bent laterally for providing a ball trough' or runway 23; which is; inclined downwardly towardi the rear' end' of'y the device. Thek trough 23 is provided with; a diagonal strip.- 24, having lugs 25, passed through openings or slots formed inthe plate or support 22, thereby serving to reinforce and stiften the't'rough or runway.

ArrangedI at the rear endl of the alley 20, andl in. proximity tothe wall or-supportV 22 is wa vertical feed chute 26, held stationary to theseparts-by any suitable means. This vertical` fe'edj chute is provided uponA its outer side with an opening orcutaway por-l tion 27, see Fig. 3, which leads into the inclined troughy 23; The opposite or inner side offr the feedf chute 26 has an inletv opening 28, which: leads into an, inclinedball. receiving'rmagazinei 29. The. magazine 2-9 is connected: with a. support` or. plate 30 andl the lower end of. the magazine is adjacent the vertical chute 26, whereby the: balls- 3l contained thereinwill automatically gravitate intothe vertical'chute. Theballreceiv- Vpreferably transversely inclined.

ing magazine 29 may be formed by bending the upper end of the plate or support 80, but the invention is of course in no sense restricted to this feature.`

Arranged to reciprocate vertically within the chute 26 is an ejector 32, having an upper inclined head 33, extending downwardly toward the trough or runway 23. When in the lowermost position, the ejector 32 has its head iush with the bottom of the magazine 29 and the lowermost ball 31 is then free to enter the vertical chute 26 and is supported by the ejector. When the ejector is raised its outer side closes the opening 2S and prevents the next ball from entering the vertical chute, while the ejector elevates the ball thereon and finally discharges the same into the trough or runway 28.

The ej'ector`32 is carried by an upstanding shank 84, operating through an opening 35 in ythe alley v20. This shank is pivotally connected, as shown at 36with a verticallyy swinging operating lever 37. The operating lever is pivoted to a support 38, at 39, the support 38 being preferably in the form of a tongue stamped fromthe material of.

the alley 20. The pivot 39 is arranged nearer the forward end of the lever 37, whereby the rear end of the lever constitutes the long arm of such lever. The rear end of the operating lever 37 is provided with a pocket 40, to receive the balls 31, Such pocket having a downwardly bulging portion or depression 41, which serves to retain the ball within the pocket until the lever has been swung thereby to its lowermost position, the ball. then automatically discharging from the pocket. This ball is then. fed into a transverse trough 42, Serving to discharge the ball through "an `opening 43 in the wall 21, to the exterior thereof.

At its rear end, the alley 2O has its' lmaterial bent for providing a transverse receptacle or chamber 44, having a discharge opening 45 formed in its bottom, preferably near its lower end, such bottom being The receptacle 44 has perpendicular side walls 46 and 47, the wall -47 extending upwardly to provide a stop 48, having a diagonal strip 49, to engage with an extension 20 of the alley 20. When in the upper position, the pocket 40 is arranged near and directly beneath the opening 45, to receive the rball therefrom.

Arranged in advance of the depressed receptacle 44, are longitudinal slots 5.0, formed inthe alley 20, and receiving ten pins 5l,

pivotally supported upon transverse pivots 52, and carrying weights 53 at their lowerends, Vwhich return the same tothe vertical position when moved therefrom by contact with the balls.

The numeral 54 designates a bowler figure as a whole, comprising a leg support 55.

This leg support, as shown more clearly in Figs. 12, 13 and 14, is formed of a single section of sheet metal stamped to provide a transverse connection 56, having hips 57 securedthereto, carrying depending legs 58. The legs 5S are provided at the feet with tongues 59, to enter the slots of the alley 20, which tongues may be bent back. An. attaching arm'60 is also carried by one hip .57 and has a depending tongue 61, to engage behind a strap v62. The legs may be suitably painted orl decorated, as desired. The iigure further comprises a body portion 62,

which is hollow and receives the upper end of the legs 40, and is pivoted thereon, at 63. This body portion embodies a weight 64 kin the lower end of the coat tail upon thel body portion, and serving to normally retain the body portion upright,this body portion rcmaining slightly tilted forwardly. The body portion 62 carries a head 65, and arms 66 and 67. The arm 67 has a pocket 68,

adapted to receive a Vball from a lateral dis-v charge spout 69 connected with the' lower end of the chute or runway 23.

The numeral 70 'Y designates a pinv setter ligure, as a whole, embodying a leg support 71, similar to the leg support 55, and held stationary by similar means. The body portion 72 of this figure is pivoted to the leg support 71, at 7 3. The body portion carries a head 74, and an arn'i 75, pivoted thereto at 76. This arm has pivotal connection with the pin 77, operating through la slot 78, Fig. 9, in the vertical chute 26. This pin is connected with the ejector to Vmove there-Y with. The body portion 72 is normally forwardly inclined, but when the arm 75 is elevated, this body portion is also thrown back or straightened, giving the appearance as if the figure was engaged-in returning the balls to the trough or runway 23.

The operation of the device is as follows:

The inclined magazine 29 is illed with the balls 31, and the lowermost ball will gravitate into the vertical chute 26 and supported therein yby the ejector 32, then occupying the lowermost position. Thel operator'then places a ballV 31 in the upper end of the runway or trough 23, and releases-the same. This ball travels by gravity toward the lower end of the runway and discharges through the spout 69 into Ythe pocket 68 of the arm 67. The weight of this` ball now swings the body portion 62 ofthe bowlerforwardly and downwardly, the ball being thereby discharged upon the alley 20. This ball rolls toward the forward end of the alley, striking the ten pins 51, and discharging into the receptacle 44l p The ball next passes from'this receptacle through the opening 45 and enters the pocket 40 ofthe lever 37, swinging the long arm of this llever downwardly. This moves the short arm of the lever upwardly,` elevating theejector 32 which transfers the lowermost ball 31 supported by the ejector'into the upper endof the runway 23. rIhis ball willnow pass downwardly through the runway andI the operation is repeated. It is thus seen that the device will be operated automatically, and that such operation, is only limited by the number of ballsemployed. When the ejector 32 is elevated,y the body portion of the pin setter is moved rearwardly or upwardly, and the arm is given an upward movement, whereby it appears as if the pin setter is returningtheball to the runway 23.

lit is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention, or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

l. A game of the character described, comprising an alley, elements arranged upon the alley to be struck by a. ball traveling longitudinally of the same, a bowler figure arranged near one end of the alley and having a receptacle to receive a ball and adapted to discharge the same upon the alley, .an inclined runway to receive the ball and discharge the samerinto the receptacle of the bowler figure, and means actuated by the weight of the ball passing from the alley for feeding another ball into the run- 2. A toy of the character described, comprising an alley, elements arranged upon the alley to be struck by a ball traveling longitudinally of the same, a bowler figure arranged near one end of the alley and having a receptacle' to receive a ball and adapted to discharge the same upon the alley, an inclined runway to receive the ball and discharge the same into the receptacle of the bowler figure, a magazine for receiving and holding a. plurality of balls, means for transferring the balls from the magazine to the runway, and means actuated by the weight of the ball passing from the alley for operating the transfer means.

3. A toy of the character described, comprising an alley, elements arranged upon the alley to be struck by a ball traveling longitudinally of the saine, a bowler figure arranged near one end of the alley and having a receptacle to receive a ball and adapted to discharge the same upon the alley, an inclined runway to feed the ball to the receptacle of the bowler. figure, a magazine for receiving and holding a plurality of balls, a chute receivingjthe balls from the magazine and extending to the runway, an ejector operating within the chute, and

means operated by the ball fed; upon the alle)v for operating -the ejector.

4. A: toy of the character described, comprising an alley, elements arrangedk upon the alleyl to be struckby a ball traveling longitudinally of the,` same, av bowlergure arranged near one end'of the alley and having-areceptacle to receive aball'and. adapted to,r discharge the" sameA upon the-A alley, an inclined runway to feed'the ball to the receptacle ofthe bowler figure, a magazine for. receiving and holding aV plurality of balls, a chute receiving the' balls andl eX- tending to the runway, an ejector operating` within the chute, means operated by the ball fed upon the alley for operating the ejector, and a pin setter figure arranged near the chute and embodying a movable part connected with the ejector to be operated thereby.

5. A toy of the character described, com prising an alley, elements arranged upon the alley to be struck by a ball traveling thereon, a bowler figure arranged near one end of the alley and having a pivoted part provided with a receptacle, a runway extending longitlldinally of the alley to feed the ball to said receptacle, a magazine for holding a plurality of balls, a chute receiving the balls from the magazine and eX- tending to the runway, an ejector operating within the chute, and a pivoted lever connected with the ejector and having one end thereof arranged to contact with the ball passing from the alley.

6. A toy of the character described, comprising an alley, elements arranged upon the alley to bbe struck by a ball traveling thereon, a depending chamber arranged near one end of the alley and having an opening, a pivoted lever disposed near and bcneath the chamber and having a pocket to receive the ball, passing through the openingl of the chamber, an upstanding chute, a runway to receive the balls from the chute, an cctor operating within the chute, means connecting the ejector and lever, and a bowler figure receiving the balls from the chute and discharging the same upon the alley.

7. A toy of the character described, comprising an alley, an inclined runway eX- tending longitudinally thereof, means for receiving balls from the runway and discharging the same upon the alley, an upstanding chute extending to the runway, an inclined magazine for receiving balls and supplying them to the chute, an eject-or operating within the chute, and a lever pivotally connected with the ejector and a1'- ranged to be struck by the balls discharging from the alley.

S. A toy'of the character described, comprising an alley, an inclined runway extending longitudinally thereof, a device to receive balls from ythe lower end of the runway and discharge the same from the alley, a vertical chute to conduct balls to the run- Way, an inclined magazine to feed the balls into the chute, an ejector operating Within the chute, means to operate the ejector including an element struck by balls discharging from the alley, and a pin setter figure having a movable part connected with the ejector to be operated thereby.

9. A toy of the character described, comprising an alley7 means to supply balls to the same including a runway, means to feed balls to the runway including a maga-zinc for receiving a plurality ofthe balls and a l5 movable element, and a pin setter figure havinga vertically movable limb connected with the movable element to be shifted thereby. v

In testimony whereof I affix my signature 20 in presence of two Witnesses.

Y ROY L. BOWMAN. 

